Category Archives: Praise Reports

POEM POST: “Spin and Sway”

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On May 21st, 2017, it was a joy to learn that one day earlier, the 82 Chibok schoolgirls who were freed from Boko Haram captivity were able to see their parents in a reunion, according to the Premium Times newspaper. Some news articles said that the 21 Chibok girls released in October of 2017 were also able to come to the reunion, which happened in Abuja.

To commemorate this joyous occasion, Annalee Hoover, the writer and steward of ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY, has written a poem about the occasion, called “Spin and Sway.” Enjoy! (Click on the image to enlarge it or download it, if you cannot read it in the post. Photo used courtesy of unsplash.com.)

spin and sway copyright picture.jpg

She spins, and sways
To the music. Covered in brightly covered clothing,
She sings at the top of her lungs,
Lungs that have breathed air from horrific places
And yet, are now breathing this air.

The night she was taken,
Now not remembered–
At least, not in this moment.
She runs into his arms,
Knowing that his arms do not mean
Threat or consuming darkness,
But safety.

Safety.
A word she has not truly known
In a long while–
When surrounded by men & women
With crocodile smiles, flashing guns and ammunition
While proclaiming “peace.” Peace
As long as she did what they pleased.

That was no peace at all.
But now, she is standing tall
Moving to the rhythm of the song
And praising Christ above, Christ within
For being with her all the time.
There once was a time of darkness,
Of cruelty,
When all she could muster in a prayer was
“help me.”
There was a time where
Those all around
Called her “lost,”
Called her situation “hopeless,”
Called the image of her “desolate.”
Forgotten. Boxed in
By men who did not know her name
Nor cared about the sin and shame they inflicted upon her.
They wronged her.

Because the truth of the matter was,
Those people thought her to be expendable.
An example
Of an object dressed like a human being.
They did not see that her blood indeed ran red
Or that her tears were just as salty as theirs.
No, she was to be used for their purposes
–Unbelievable. Yet true.

What happened is not forgotten.
From the Almighty, there will
Be justice.

Like incense rising (psalm 141:2), I have a prayer,
And it is this:

That those who do evil in the dark
Would be found out by the light.
That their hands, blood-red,
Would not be so caustically washed,
But that their sins
Would draw them to the pit–
A place of real repentance.

My prayer is this:
That every single girl
That every single boy
Included and not included
In this mess labeled “the chibok kidnapping”
Would be able to exchange black clothing and hijabs
For colorful clothing, too.
Made Free.

This is my prayer:

That each of the 113 young women
Still waiting to run
Into the arms of their loved ones
Would, soon,
Chasing their haunting memories
Into the night wilderness
Where they belong.

Some are still not home.
But let’s not give up hope.

Because she is not
“Desolate” anymore.
Her first name is not
“Hopeless,”
Her nickname not “Lost.”
No. As evidenced by the jewelry on her necklace—a cross—
She has been rescued,
Freed,
Redeemed!

So, Lord Jesus,
Please walk with her every step of this way.
Every step of her swaying,
Every step of her dancing.

And every step
That seems too hard to take.

May her smile be like the moon,
Reflecting light from the S(o)n,
And may every step
She takes in your presence
(That is, EVERY step she takes),
Lead her straight to Your heart–
A true reason for
Singing,
Swaying,
And dancing, indeed.

Do you know Jesus?

“The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”
(Psalm 145:9, NIV)

It is no secret that God is good. Whether you believe in Him or not, the fact that You are in existence right now, breathing in air that You did not create, confirms the fact of God’s goodness.

But what about Jesus? Who is He, and what makes Him so good? John 3:16 spells out Jesus’ Love for us, beautifully. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus was that one and only Son– not just given by the Father to the world, but “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!“

Because of this, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11, NIV).

This Jesus was the perfect man; not only is He the perfect man, but He is God the Son: God in Human Flesh! Jesus willingly came to die for the sins of the world, so that everyone who takes in what He did would be saved.

Want to know more about Jesus? Meet Him by clicking here, on our “Do You Know Jesus” page.

Please pray for…

– Those who are not yet saved. Please pray for those in your life, and all around the world, who do not yet know Jesus! May He use you, ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY, and every other means He chooses to bring people’s hearts to Himself!

– Those who are freed! Please pray that Jesus would continue to heal these “Chibok girls,” now “Chibok young women,” who have been freed, and are undergoing counseling for their traumatic experiences.

– For the Chibok girls not yet free. Please pray that Jesus would open up the doors for them to become free, soon.

– The Nigerian military. Apparently, a coup may be starting within the Nigerian military against the government. They are in desperate need of supplies, training, and morale. Please pray that these men and women would come to know Christ, and would trust in Him as they continue to suffer– and that the suffering would stop, soon.

Thank you for your prayers!!! Let’s continue to celebrate the freed Chibok girls, and pray for those who are not yet free!

The Weight of Sin: Refusing to Be Free

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 Letter from the writer: “The Process of Healing” and this post were meant to be one post, but upon writing the post, I was led to create two separate, smaller posts with similarities, yet with two different themes. If they seem to read the same, that is why. 🙂

On May 13th, email messages came into the inbox of ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY with shocking, yet unbelievably true, news: there are, indeed, at least four young women who do not want to leave Boko Haram captivity.

In this video, shared by Bring Back Our Girls and reported by SaharaTV, four of the reported Chibok schoolgirls, including one young woman named Maida Yakubu, explains that she does not want to leave Boko Haram captivity because “they [her parents] live in a town of unbelief,” and that she wants them to “accept Islam” (source). She says all of this while covered in a black hijab, holding a large gun.

There is chance that these are not Chibok schoolgirls; or that they are being made to say such things. But, if it is true, this news is crushing—especially for the parents of these young women, who have cried out to Christ for their safe release/return. To learn that their  daughters do not even want to be free, and do not even want to see them, must be a shattering blow to their hearts.

BOUND AND BLIND

While these young girls did nothing sinful to be kidnapped and taken into captivity, this idea of young women refusing freedom and home reminds one of sin—and of the bonding, blinding effect it has on our lives, as it did in the life of Samson.

The biblical account of Samson can be found in the book of Judges. Samson was a man who had every bit of potential: He was born a Nazirite, which is a person who is dedicated to the LORD and does not cut their hair, drink wine or fermented drinks, nor do they touch anything unclean. Set apart to the LORD, Samson’s uncut hair made him a strong man—a man who frequently had the Spirit of the LORD fall upon him in power (Judges 13, 14:6).

Yet, for all of the potential Samson had, he wasted his life on sin—from getting even with those who wronged him by striking down thirty men (Judges 14:19-20), to lighting an entire community’s produce on fire in anger (Judges 15:3-5), Samson used the strength and potential Christ gave him in ways that were far from God-honoring.

One of the most volatile sins in his life, though, was his promiscuity and life-long sexual sin (Judges 16:1-3). In his infatuation with Delilah the Philistine (the Philistines were one of Israel’s greatest enemies), Samson told her the secret: that it was his hair that caused his strength (Judges 16:4-17). Delilah sold him out to the Philistines; they cut his hair, plucked out his eyes, and bound in chains (Judges 16:18-22).

Yet, Samson’s life was not a complete waste. As his hair grew back, he regained his strength; and, in the Philistine’s celebration of Dagon, their false god, Samson pushed over pillars supporting the building they were all in (Judges 16:29-30). “Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived” (Judges 16:30b). Killing the Philistines’ leaders and many more, Israel won a victory over the Philistines. Still, this painful life shows that the enemy indeed means to kill, steal, and destroy through sin, which binds one—and usually blinds one to the fact that they are bound.

Again, these four young women have done NOTHING wrong to be in the captivity they are in at the moment. But the fact that they have been so brainwashed as to believe that they are in a good place, when they are obviously still bound, is a cause for deep sorrow, and earnest prayer. “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Do you know Jesus?

“It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.”
(Isaiah 50:9, NIV)

The weight of sin is incredibly heavy—it produces death, physically and spiritually (Romans 6:23). And while no one can escape their physical death, there is a death, the second, spiritual death that one can escape.

But how? There is no way a person can live a totally sinless life. Instead, God Himself came down to Earth, to do exactly what nobody else could do: pay the wages of sin, for those who take on the free gift of eternity.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Take on God’s eternal gift—paid by Himself, Christ Jesus—today. Read more here.

Please pray for:

– These four Chibok schoolgirls; for Maida Yakubu, who spoke in the video.

– For the remaining Chibok schoolgirls, that they would all want to be free.

– For the Nigerian government, as they continue to collaborate with the International Red Cross, and the Swiss Government, to free the remaining girls.

– For the Nigerian military, who is suffering losses, according to this article.

The Process of Healing

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On May 11th, an article by CNN was posted that shed light on something very important happening to the freed “Chibok girls”: their healing.

According to CNN, who had a “rare glimpse” inside the Chibok girls’ recovery, the now 106 young women are living in a government-owned building that is much like a hostel or boarding school for the girls, along with an on-sight psychiatrist, psychologist, a social worker, and two matrons, “one of whom is from Chibok” (source). The girls have a scheduled, yet somewhat normal lifestyle that involves taking educational and lifestyle courses, playing handball with the other girls, and scheduled times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “I remember vividly when they were first released, they had symptoms of PTSD, nightmares, insomnia. The girls are doing very well,” CNN reported their psychologist saying, while noting that he said they have made “tremendous improvement” (source). Yet, throughout all of this, there is still healing to be had; shrapnel still lives uncovered in the girls’ bodies, and surely, emotional, spiritual, and mental shrapnel lay hidden in them, too.

But, most of all, these girls, contrary to what was thought earlier, are reportedly not there against their own will or against the will of their parents. “Parents have been to visit them here. They gave government consent for them to be here. …We did not compel anybody,” says Nigeria’s women’s minister Aisha Alhassan, according to CNN (source). With such resources, the idea of the Chibok schoolgirls– now Chibok’s young women– finding lives of normalcy and wholeness seem possible.

The steward of ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY, and surely others, have been praying for the Chibok young women’s healing for quite some time, and it was a breath of fresh air to gain insight on this beautiful, yet bittersweet process. Although this is wonderful, it is all too important to truly consider that real healing comes from Christ—knowing Him, and being known by Him.

 

A Story of Emotional Healing

In the book of Genesis, chapters 37-50 tell the biblical account of Joseph, Jacob (also known as Israel’s) son. In it, Joseph has dreams of his brothers, father and mother bowing before him; he also is extremely favored by his father, so much so that he receives a beautiful, ornate robe to wear (Genesis 37:1-3, 5-11). This jealousy not only creates tension between Jacob and the rest of his sons; it causes his other sons to be murderous with jealousy toward Joseph (Genesis 37:4).

As written in Genesis 37:12- 28, incredibly envious and full of rage toward Joseph, Joseph’s brothers want to plot his death, but decide instead to put him in an empty cistern, and further sell him into slavery– human trafficking. Lying to their father, they brought Joseph’s coat dipped in goat blood, claiming an animal had killed him (Genesis 37:31-32).

Taken into an entirely new land against his own will, Joseph undergoes much heartbreak: from going to jail because of doing the right thing (Genesis 39), to being forgotten in that jail for a long period of time (Genesis 40:23), what his own flesh and blood brothers did to him hurt him in unimaginable ways.

What could have been seen as impossible for Joseph under such circumstances, Joseph not only came to fully forgive his brothers; but every relationship they ever had with him was restored, so much so that He “reassured them” of the fact that he would never repay their wrongs with evil, and “spoke kindly to them” (Genesis 50:21, NIV). This is not even to mention the fact that Jacob was able to see his son, Joseph again, after believing he was dead for so many years!

Under such horrific circumstances, what could have ever healed Joseph’s heart so wholly? Through the weeping (Genesis 42:24; 43:30; 45:1; 50:17), the anger, and finally, the telling of the truth, Joseph and his brothers were reconciled by nothing less than the grace and goodness of Christ. Each step of the arduous way, Christ was there—ready to provide the Peace Joseph and his family needed, and ready to bring good out of the evil sin that his brothers committed.

This is the true, and only, Hope for anyone who has undergone heartbreak and trauma, including the Chibok girls. Joseph, having gone through such deep brokenness, realized and saw the fact that Jesus wants to heal and mend what is fractured and torn. All one needs to do is seek Him, allowing His Will to be done, not their own (Psalm 34:14).

So, no matter how deep the trauma, or wide the pain, there is Hope in Christ alone. Let’s trust Him– it is His Will that we would have life, and life abundantly, and only He can make it so.

Do you know Jesus?

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10, NKJV)

2,000 years ago, God stepped off his throne, and came into the world, putting on human flesh. His name is Jesus the Christ, and He came that we might have real, abundant life. That does not just mean real abundance here on earth, but rather, eternal life with Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, in heaven.

His body was scarred so that we might be healed. Read more about Him, and meet Him, here.

Please pray for…

– The Chibok girls who have been freed. As it has been said before, these girls are just starting a lifetime’s journey of healing, and prayers that Christ would be their Lord and Savior on this journey would be appreciated.

– The Nigerian government. Please pray that as more of the girls are being negotiated for, Christ would be Lord over those negotiating with terrorists, and that His Will would be done,
not our own.

– The rescue, and de-radicalization of girls who do not want to be free. As stated in another post, there are reportedly four Chibok schoolgirls who do not want to be released. Please pray in Jesus’ Name that they would realize their need for Christ—and for freedom.

82 MORE CHIBOK GIRLS FREED!!!

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I thought I would never type the words.
But I was wrong.

On May 6th, 2017,
82 more of the Kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls were freed from Boko Haram captivity, in negotiations for Boko Haram soldiers!!!

They were freed in negotiations between Boko Haram, the Government of Switzerland, and the International Red Cross.

Can we just sit in the wonder of those words for a moment?
Too often, my heart jumps to the bad news, or to the things that still must be done.

But we called. JESUS ANSWERED. He has heard every prayer written upon this blog… whether written with a heart full of faith, or one just hanging onto faith by a thread and full of sorrow.

Whether written because, dare I say it, “it’s been the routine way of how I write blogposts,” or if it was really, sincerely meant– written with tears.

As a pastor once said, “It is not the prayer itself, but in whose Hands it is in.” These prayers that so many people have prayed were put into God the Father’s Hands… and He has the authority to speak a word, and bring these captive, oppressed young women into the light of freedom. Do you believe this?

Isn’t that what He has done, for all of us, at one point or another?
Maybe you find yourself in that place of captivity, bondage and oppression, today.

Friend, if there is one thing we can all learn during the celebration of these 82 young women’s freedom, it’s that Jesus wants us to be truly free.

And only He has the authority to do such a thing in a person’s life. Sure, the President of Nigeria, the government of Switzerland and the International Red Cross can do their work in physically freeing these 82 young women, but what about being truly free?
Free from believing lies. Free from the shame, the fear, the anxiety.

There was a dry season in my life toward this blog where I, to horribly admit it, didn’t fully trust or believe that the Chibok girls were going to be freed.
Time went by. Nothing seemed to be happening. And thinking that one day, news Headlines would say what they say today… this underlying belief was hard to hold onto, in certain moments.

I thought truly thought I would never type these words. BUT I HAVE!
May that be an encouragement and a testimony to you:
That you, like these Chibok schoolgirls, can be freed by turning to Jesus Himself.
That, when it seems hopeless, Christ is still moving.
That HE ALONE has the authority to calm the wind and waves… and HE ALONE has the authority to set  you truly free.

As we celebrate these 82 beautiful Chibok girls, let’s be reminded that Jesus Christ is mighty to save, and that HE ALONE gets the glory! 🔹

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Used Courtesy of BeautyBeyondBones.com

Do you know Jesus?

There’s no other way to put it.
Only Jesus Christ can truly set a person free. No amount of trying really hard, meditation, medication, romantic love, drugs, partying, food, lack of food, or self-control in and of itself can save a person from themselves, setting them truly free.

He is not here to throw stones at you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16-17, ESV).

Jesus has paid ALL that you owe– if only You would accept Him and what He has done for You on the cross. Learn more about Jesus, and meet Him, here.

Let us pray for…

  • The 163 kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls that are now FREE. 
  • The Nigerian military, as they continue to participate in these negotiations and rescues of the Chibok girls.
  • The Nigerian government; that President Buhari would come to know Jesus, and give HIM all the Glory for what has gone on.
  • That Boko Haram would be crushed, so that it’s members can come to know the Truth found only in Jesus Christ. Members were traded for the Chibok girls, so please pray that they do not do any worse damage.
  • That the remaining 113 Chibok schoolgirls would be FOUND, soon!

Jesus hears our prayers, friends! Let’s continue to lift up the Chibok girls, and those involved in this insurgency, to Him! ❤

BREAKING NEWS: ANOTHER CHIBOK GIRL HAS BEEN FOUND!!!!!

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Another Chibok girl has breathed the air of freedom!!!

On January 5th, 2016, Rakiya Abubakar Gali was found, with a six month old baby.
Sources say Rakiya was found, as 1,000 suspects were detained for questioning, following the raid on the Sambisa Forest that the Nigerian military conducted in December.

She was quoted looking “serious and morose,” holding her child. While the reason is unclear, she will be “released to the state government” after she goes under medical exams (source).

While people are unsure about Rakiya’s condition, or what she has gone through, Christ knows exactly what is going on– and where the state of her heart, is.

Let us pray for Rakiya. That she would turn to Christ for help and healing, now that she  has been found. ❤

Do you know Jesus?

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT)

Rendered “The God of All Comfort” in the New International Version of verse 3, Christ is not only seen as The Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth; He is the Father who is sensitive and tender-hearted toward the people and creation He created.

But, humanity was not tender-hearted towards Him. From the garden, on, mankind was bent on hurting themselves, and separating themselves from God, because of their sin.

Yet, Christ so Loved the world, that He couldn’t bear to see mankind hopelessly separated from Him. And so, He Himself died for the sins of many.

Jesus Christ is passionate, not just about all of humanity, but about you, personally– so much so, that He died for you to be brought into right, close standing with Him.
Meet this Compassionate, Tender-hearted God, here.

Let’s pray for Rakiya, her family, and the rest of her school mates, here.

“Dear Father God,
Thank You for Rakiya Abubukar Gali. Thank You for choosing her to come into existence, here, and now.
Father God, through all of the pain, thank You for being faithful to Rakiya, and for taking her through the incredibly deep, dark valley that she has gone through.

Father God,
We now pray that Rakiya would want, and realize, her need for You.
Please bring her heart to know You– and show her that You truly are “The God of All Comfort” in her life.
Please, Father God,
Counsel Your Daughter– Hold her under the shadow of Your Wings, Father God. We pray for total healing and restoration– let Your Love shine in, to all of her hurting and weak spots.

At the same time, Lord Jesus,

Please help her family to both celebrate her freedom, and Love her through this life-long road of restoration. More than this, Father God,
Please send out Your Church, to Love Rakiya, no matter what she believes, or where she is at.
Please help us around the world to continue to do so, in prayer.
Father God, we know that there are many other young women to rescue, as apart of the Chibok girls, and thousands more who are not apart of that specific kidnapping. Please bring them to freedom, as well, we pray.
Thank You for that, Jesus.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.”

Thank you for all of your prayers and support!!! May Jesus bless you, with a close relationship with Him! ❤

Set Free at Christmas Time!

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This Christmas,
Isaiah 62 Prayer Ministry would like to highlight both the joyous successes that Christ has given, as well as to remember the people still struggling in Northern Nigeria.

President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo take a picture with the 21 freed Chibok girls.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo take a formal picture with the 21 Chibok girls freed on October 13th, 2016. The 21 girls are Mary Usman Bulama, Jummai John, Blessing Abana, Lugwa Sanda, Comfort Habila, Maryam Basheer, Comfort Amos, Glory Mainta, Saratu Emannuel, Deborah Ja’afaru, Rahab Ibrahim, Helen Musa, Maryamu Lawan, Rebecca Ibrahim, Asabe Goni, Deborah Andrawus, Agnes Gapani, Saratu Markus, Glory Dama, Pindah Nuhu, and Rebecca Mallam.

Over three years ago, the town of Maiduguri had a strict curfew, causing markets and businesses to be abandoned, and citizens hidden in their homes, for fear of attacks from Boko Haram. Cities were being relentlessly attacked.

Two years ago, 219 young women, ages 16-18, were held captive, away from their parents, family, and loved ones. Tears over the inaction of the Nigerian government in the situation dampened the Christmas spirit. Suicide bombers were the tragic norm.

But while some of these things are still being worked out, there has been incredible change. In an article written by Thomson Reuters, Northern Nigerians in the city of Maiduguri are celebrating Christmas, again– the night air now filled with the hustle and bustle of outdoor markets, until the late night curfew of 10 pm.

More than this, Christian congregations have more than just re-commenced fellowshipping: they have taken to the streets, celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ in the “predominantly muslim city” (source). In a city where Christians used to cower in fear under the oppression of Boko Haram, Christ has brought freedom and victory– to the point of His People being able to sing out His Praises, without fear. Continue reading →

IMPORTANT NEWS! Maryam: The Story of Redemption & Restoration

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““Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
(Luke 15:9-10, NIV)

Jesus has a passion for every single person (John 3:16). He desires that all of them come to know Him as their Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:9). Christ’s deep Love is for each and every individual person, no matter who they are, what they have been through, or what they have done.

Over two years ago, 276 young women were kidnapped, in the dead of night, by Boko Haram. Though it sparked a worldwide campaign, called #BringBackOurGirls, it has not been until recent months that 24 young women were freed/escaped Boko Haram captivity. This is one of the amazing, precious young women, dearly loved by Jesus, to be freed.

But, while there is rejoicing over her physical release, there is even greater rejoicing, in heaven, over those who have been spiritually freed.

Please pray for Maryam, that she would know Christ, and would be completely and totally freed, by knowing Christ as her Lord and Savior.

Christ does not just care about numbers; in fact, Christ does not look at the outer shell, at all. He looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He Loves You, personally, and passionately.

To learn more about the God who Loves YOU personally, please click here.

Important News:

It has been announced, with great, amazing, unspeakable joy, that one more Chibok schoolgirl has been freed!

chibok-girl-maryam-ali-maiyanga

Maryam Ali Maiyanga, and her 10-month-old, Ali, after being freed from Boko Haram captivity (source).

Maryam Ali Maiyanga has been found, and freed, by the Nigerian government, on Saturday, November 5th, 2016!

Troops found Maryam, and her 10 month-old son, Ali, as they were screened after escaping Boko Haram’s stronghold in the Sambisa Forest, in Pulka, Borno State with help from the Nigerian military. Though the Chibok girls were the most high-profile case of Boko Haram’s kidnappings, Boko Haram has kidnapped hundreds– maybe even thousands– of men, women, and children from their homes, keeping them under lock and guard for years. Many, seemingly including Maryam, are either already muslim, or have converted to Islam in Boko Haram captivity– which may be out of fear, or brainwashing.

Maryam’s 10-month-old son, Ali, was claimed to have been fathered by a Boko Haram commander, whom she was either “married off” to, or coerced into having sex with. The child looks well, and will no doubt receive medical care, along with Maryam, from the Nigerian government.

Some of facts may seem horrific… but, while the trauma caused by these events remains, Maryam is physically free, and that is a cause for celebration.

While this is an amazing, joyous event, “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10, NIV). If there is rejoicing over this young woman’s physical freedom, think of the rejoicing over her spiritual freedom, as she comes to Christ!

Jesus has freed many, both physically and spiritually, from the clutches of Boko Haram, and islam. Jesus is in the business of redemption, and restoration!!! Praise Him!!!

There is still much to be done. This young girl, along with countless others, still has much healing to experience. But, let’s praise Jesus for all He has done, is doing, and will do, in the hearts of captives, refugees, Boko Haram members, and the Nigerian military.

Please pray  that Maryam would come to know Jesus, and receive true healing!

Please join me in prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I praise You, that each and every person on this Earth, right now, matters deeply to you– not to mention those who have passed away, and those who you know are still to be born (Psalm 116:15; 139).

Jesus, we thank You for Your amazing, amazing Love. Thank You for looking at all of us, and declaring us worthy to die for, so that we might be with you, forever.

Dear Jesus, You know Maryam Ali Maiyanga . You saw her, being formed in her mother’s womb, before she was even born. You foresaw every day of her life.

You knew she would be kidnapped, taken, from her family, her loved ones, and her home, to experience the immense bondage perpetrated by Boko Haram.
But Jesus, we know that You are bigger than even the most wicked, deplorable evil. We know that Your Love, shown to us in Yourself on the cross, can break into even the hardest, evil, darkest heart– or the most wounded, broken, confused of hearts– and bring them to truly know You.

Dear Jesus, I pray in Your Name that You would release Maryam from any and all bondage that she is left in. Dear Jesus, please show Maryam that true freedom is found in YOU– and that she only needs to accept Your free gift of Salvation to experience true healing, breakthrough, and a personal relationship with You, God Himself.

Jesus, we pray over the army commander that fathered Maryam’s child. If he is still alive, and wherever he is, please break through his heart, and show him what truly pleasing you looks like: loving you, and loving others. I pray for new, eternal life even for this man, and for all members of Boko Haram.

Jesus, I also pray over Maryam’s son, Ali. 
Dear Jesus, I pray that, though this little boy was born under horrific circumstances, You would restore and redeem his life, to bring you glory and praise. Please bring this young, little guy to you, and show him, and everyone around, that he is not only identified by his past or even this tragic state of affairs– or even by the fact that his father’s blood flows through his veins– but that his identity lies in and by YOU, and the fact that we are all COMPLETELY new creations in You, with Your blood flowing through our spiritual veins, when we accept You into our lives and hearts, as Lord and Savior.

Please, dear Jesus, show Yourself in this situation to Maryam, and to everyone, around her. I thank You for this, Father God. 

In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.“

Please continue praying for Maryam, her family, and her story. Please also pray for the Nigerian military, and for their continued success!

Thank you!